International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA)

What International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA) does

INGSA (International Network for Governmental Science Advice) is an international non-profit network organization founded in 2014 as an affiliated body of the International Science Council (ISC) and hosted at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. It serves science advice practitioners—policymakers, government chief scientific advisers, researchers, and institutions—who work at the evidence-to-policy interface in government. Its membership is free and spans more than 65 countries, organized through five regional chapters covering Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and North America, positioning INGSA as the only global network with this explicit remit.

The organization's core offerings include biennial international conferences (the most recent being INGSA2024 in Kigali, Rwanda, with approximately 300 attendees from 65 countries), cohort-based capacity development programs such as the Science Advice Skills Development Programme (SASDP, currently in its 5th cohort) and Seeds of Science Asia (SOSA, 2nd cohort), a Communities of Practice vertical, thematic workshops (including frontier-tech topics such as quantum technology simulation with GESDA and AI-era digital infrastructure), and publications such as the Digital Wellbeing Report. Strategic institutional partnerships span the OECD, NASEM, ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia-Pacific, IPPO, GESDA, MIGHT, and UCSI, and the network maintains a steering committee and management team drawn from internationally recognized science-policy figures.

INGSA's business model is non-commercial and grant-funded rather than fee-based. There is no per-seat pricing or paid membership tier; operating costs are supported through institutional arrangements, grants, and partner contributions, with the University of Auckland providing the host infrastructure. With INGSA2027 confirmed for Malaysia and a municipal-level science advice initiative launching in 2026, the network is executing a measured geographic and thematic expansion within the governmental science-advisory ecosystem.

Name

International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA)

Legal name

International Network for Governmental Science Advice

Website

https://ingsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Free, international non-profit network hosted at the University of Auckland, connecting science advice practitioners across 65+ countries through regional chapters, biennial conferences, capacity development programs, and publications to strengthen evidence-to-policy mechanisms in government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Policy Advisory Services

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

Keywords

• Science policy advice
• Evidence to policy
• Science diplomacy
• Science advisory networks
• Policy capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership: INGSA membership is free and open access, providing opportunities, events, and training to members. The organization does not charge for membership.
2. Charitable Organization / Grant Funded: INGSA is a New Zealand-based international organization hosted at the University of Auckland, registered as a charity (CC58851). As an Affiliated Body of the International Science Council, the organization operates through grants, partnerships, and institutional support rather than commercial revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

INGSA is a global nonprofit network that builds the capacity of individuals and institutions working at the science-policy-society interface, connects Communities of Practice to share best practice in evidence-to-policy dynamics, and creates scientifically literate societies through free membership, biennial international conferences, regional chapters, workshops, mentorship programs, and online knowledge resources. Its core activity is convening and connecting science advice practitioners across more than 65 countries rather than selling a discrete product or service.

Product overview

INGSA is a global network organization (not a traditional software product company) that operates primarily through its website portal and various programs. The core offering consists of the main website platform (ingsa.org) serving as a hub for the network, combined with specialized platforms including the COVID Hub for pandemic resources, the Knowledge Hub for publications and resources, and INGSA Horizons for multimedia content. INGSA delivers value primarily through programs and services including international conferences (INGSA Conferences series), capacity development programs (SASDP, SOSA grants, Grassroots Awards), educational tools (GESDA simulation games), and publications (Viewpoints, Digital Wellbeing Report, NASEM guidebook). Regional chapters (Asia, Africa, Europe, LAC, North America) operate as part of the network structure. The organization does not offer traditional software products with APIs, integrations, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• INGSA Conferences Biennial international conference series convening science advice practitioners and thought-leaders from across the global network to share best practice in evidence-to-policy mechanisms and science diplomacy. Open to governments, universities, academies, and private industry participants.
• INGSA Horizons Multimedia content platform featuring video interviews, podcasts, insights, and key concepts in knowledge-for-policy from across INGSA's global network. Open to the public via the website.
• Knowledge Hub Online repository providing access to INGSA's research reports, case studies, projects, and science advice resources including the Digital Wellbeing Report and Science Breakthrough Radar. Open to the public via the website.
• Capacity Development Programs Capacity building initiatives including the Science Advice Skills Development Program (SASDP), workshops, mentorship programs, and training for practitioners at the science-policy-society interface. Targeted at science advice practitioners and early-to-mid-career researchers.
• COVID Hub Dedicated resource hub providing science advice and evidence-to-policy resources specifically focused on COVID-19 response and pandemic preparedness.
• Seeds of Science, Asia (SOSA) Seed grant initiative by INGSA-Asia in collaboration with ISC RFP-AP supporting scientists, researchers, and practitioners in Asia to share knowledge and insights through workshops and grassroots activities. Reset for a second round in 2026.
• INGSA/GESDA World Build Simulation Games Interactive role-playing simulation games for exploring governance of revolutionary technologies, co-developed with GESDA. Includes Quantum Tech and Neurotechnologies games, shared under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license.
• Grassroots Science Advice Promotion Awards Awards program providing seed grants (up to AUD 10,000) to scientists and practitioners to organize science advice workshops in their home countries, with mentorship from INGSA-Asia Steering Committee members. 2024 winners announced.
• Digital Wellbeing Report Research report resulting from INGSA's collaboration with OECD, exploring wellbeing in the context of rapid digital transformations and implications for research, policy, and measurement. Published in 2018.
• INGSA-Asia/NASEM Guidebook on Zoonotic Spillover Guidebook synthesizing regional and international best practice for controlling zoonotic spillover in the live animal supply chain in Southeast Asia, developed in collaboration with the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
• INGSA Website Portal and Free Membership Central website portal (ingsa.org) serving as the hub for INGSA's global network, providing access to chapters, knowledge resources, events, news, and free open-access membership registration for science advice practitioners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300 in-person attendees from 65 countries at INGSA2024 conference
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and regional.

• International Science Council (ISC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerINGSA is an Affiliated Body of the International Science Council. The ISC is the premier global scientific organization representing science and scientific institutions worldwide. This relationship provides INGSA with institutional credibility and global reach in science policy matters.
• University of AucklandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINGSA is hosted at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. The university provides institutional support and infrastructure for the global network's secretariat operations.
• US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerINGSA-Asia collaborated with NASEM to co-organize a series of invitation-only workshops exploring ways to help prevent and mitigate the consequences of zoonotic spillover originating in the live animal supply chain in Southeast Asia. The collaboration produced a comprehensive guidebook on Countering Zoonotic Spillover.
• Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerINGSA supports GESDA's work in preparing policymakers and societies for revolutionary science breakthroughs. This includes case study development for GESDA's Science Diplomacy Week, ongoing engagement with FMSTAN, and promotion of GESDA's events and resources. INGSA and GESDA co-developed the Quantum Tech World Build Simulation Game.
• International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINGSA has been a foundational partner in the UK-based International Public Policy Observatory, which formed during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide global policy intelligence to UK policymakers.
• Regional Chapters NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerINGSA's regional chapters (Africa, Asia, LAC, Europe, North America) operate as integral parts of the global network, sharing best practice and coordinating activities regionally while maintaining global connectivity.
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINGSA collaborated with OECD in April 2018 to convene an expert workshop on understanding wellbeing in the context of rapid digital transformation. The workshop resulted in the 'Digital Wellbeing' report examining implications for research, policy, and measurement.
• International Science Council RFP-AP (ISC RFP-AP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerINGSA-Asia collaborates with ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific on various initiatives including the Seeds of Science, Asia (SOSA) program and regional workshops.
• Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIGHT partnered with INGSA-Asia and UCSI-IISDS to host a Masterclass on Science Diplomacy and the International Conference on Science Diplomacy for Regional Prosperity in ASEAN.
• UCSI University's International Institute of Science Diplomacy and Sustainability (UCSI-IISDS)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCSI-IISDS, founded by Patron of INGSA-Asia Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, collaborates with INGSA-Asia on science diplomacy initiatives in Malaysia and the region.
• Global Young Academy (GYA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINGSA-Europe and the Global Young Academy co-hosted an interactive workshop on science advice in challenging settings for early and mid-career researchers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/INGSciAdvice
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@INGSciAdvice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ingsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA)